Balsam to Kimberly is 30.8 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Lake Avenue and State Highway 210, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short Midwest drive connects two points within Minnesota, making it an easy day trip. The journey offers a mixed driving experience, primarily utilizing state highways. With a minimal fuel cost and a quick travel time, this route is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a quick errand.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lake Avenue
9.4 mi
12m
State Highway 210
7.5 mi
9m
State Highway 65
7.1 mi
9m
Nature Avenue
3.7 mi
9m
Kestrel Avenue
3 mi
7m
West Highway 210
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lake Avenue
— 9.4 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Balsam, MN and Kimberly, MN.
1
Start on CR 64
3.0 mi·7 min·Kestrel Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 14
9.4 mi·12 min·Lake Avenue
3
Turn left onto MN 65
7.1 mi·9 min·State Highway 65
4
Turn right onto MN 210
0.1 mi·10 sec·West Highway 210
5
Continue on MN 210
7.5 mi·9 min·State Highway 210
6
Turn left onto CR 5
1.0 mi·2 min·Nature Avenue
7
Continue on CR 5
2.7 mi·6 min·Nature Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
CR 5
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Balsam, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 27 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3 mi into trip|~7m in|CR 14 / Lake Avenue
Turn left onto CR 14 / Lake Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
12.4 mi into trip|~20m in|MN 65 / State Highway 65
Turn left onto MN 65 / State Highway 65
Navigation decision point
4
19.4 mi into trip|~29m in|MN 210 / West Highway 210
Turn right onto MN 210 / West Highway 210
Navigation decision point
4
27 mi into trip|~39m in|CR 5 / Nature Avenue
Turn left onto CR 5 / Nature Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.63 one way
$9.25 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$4.99
$9.99
premium
$4.60
$5.58
$11.16
diesel
$4.80
$5.82
$11.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.2
0
$3.23
$1.48
Efficient EV
7.7
0
$2.70
$1.23
EV Truck/SUV
12.3
0
$4.31
$1.97
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 4, 2026
Origin
Balsam, MN
Morning
in Balsam on Monday
Local time
6:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 0 to 5 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 3 at 5:58PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 3 at 10:07AM CDT until July 6 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Kimberly, MN
Morning
in Kimberly on Monday
Local time
6:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 0 to 5 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 3 at 5:58PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 3 at 10:07AM CDT until July 6 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
48m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 30.8-mile trip features a mixed drive, with 48% of it on highways. You'll experience about 9.4 miles on Lake Avenue as the longest uninterrupted stretch, offering a consistent pace before transitioning. The route incorporates State Highway 210 and State Highway 65, providing a blend of faster highway segments and potentially more local road conditions. Expect a varied driving experience that isn't solely focused on interstate speed.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.4 mi on Lake Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near CR 14 / Lake Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Balsam, MN to Kimberly, MN is easy. At 48m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (CR 14 / Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles (MN 210 / West Highway 210): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 9.4 miles on Lake Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (CR 14 / Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles (MN 210 / West Highway 210): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kimberly, MN before heading back.
